Zobida Ambtman.
Zobida Ambtman is a mother, grandmother and retired social worker who knows how very important education and good nutrition are to the world’s children.
Having spent three months immersed in the children’s lives and their challenges at the Hyderabad Home in India, she returned resolved to do what she can from Winnipeg.
So, now Ambtman is helping to organize a fund raising dinner for 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 21, 2014, at the Punjab Banquet Hall, 94 Mandalay Drive in Winnipeg.
The event is in support of the charity, Child Haven International, that operates in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Tibet.
Ambtman has worked tirelessly on this fundraising banquet, now celebrating its fifth anniversary.
Big Daddy Tazz
Big Daddy Tazz, will host the evening featuring an East Indian buffet, entertainment, a silent auction and a presentation on the work of Child Haven.
While in India, Ambtman taught English to high school girls, English grammar and arts and crafts to younger children and educated the teachers on child development.
“Despite the poverty, the children have an amazing spirit and are most generous, sharing what little they have with others,” says Ambtman of her observations in the village.
The children are in school from 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m, and are allowed to play for half-an-hour before beginning their homework. Many electricity outages means that children are often doing their homework by moonlight.
While living in the Child Haven home, Ambtman also helped to carry water from the town when the wells were polluted.
Established in 1985, Child Haven was inspired by the ideals and philosophy of Mahtma Ghandi to help orphaned children and destitute women who have nowhere to go. Assistance in the form of food, shelter, clothing and health care is provided to 1100 children, 150 women and 30 seniors. The goal is to provide education, vocational training and employment assistance so that the women and children can enter local society as self-reliant persons.
Founders of Child Haven and Recipients of the Order of Canada, Unitarian Minister Fred Cappuccino and his wife Bonnie, will speak at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 603 Wellington Crescent at 10:30 a.m. September 21.
The Cappuccinos are amazing role models not only for their dedication to helping those less fortunate but as stewards of humanity. As biological parents of two sons, they adopted 19 children from 11 countries. They are also the first Canadians to be awarded UNESCO’s Honourable Mention Award for ” teaching human rights”.
They raised their children as they run their centres, based on gender equality, simple living, non-violence and vegetarianism.
The Cappuccino clan.
The overhead is low for Child Haven because they rely on volunteers and they do not spend money on advertising. They do not proselytize either. The children at Child Haven are raised according to the highest ideals of their own culture.
In addition to raising orphaned and homeless children, Child Haven runs food, literacy, cultural, and waste management programs including health clinics and legal advocacy for women.
Tickets for the fundraiser are $40.00 each or a table of 10 for $350, and are available from Zobida Ambtman at 204-489-7630.
For those unable to attend the dinner, tax receipts will be issued for donations to Child Haven. Child Haven is a registered Canadian charity (118851922RR0001). Receiving no government support, Child Haven operates on the generosity of individuals.
To learn more about the work of Child Haven, visit: www.childhaven.ca
